Conservation through the eyes of women

Forest Tales

The Forest Tales Project wants to amplify the voice of underrepresented people and overlooked species in wildlife conservation.

Discover the projectSão Tomé and Príncipe · Central Africa

The project

The forest speaks in the feminine

We have started the first group of all women conservationists in São Tomé and Príncipe — creating a safe space to learn, share, collaborate and inspire other women, throughout 2026 and 2027.

First, to protect ourselves as women, and then to protect nature.

Building on the Forest Giants Project (2018–2023), started through a National Geographic Level I grant and initially implemented by Alisei Onlus NGO with ULisboa.

The first all-women conservationist group in São Tomé and Príncipe

Who are we

A team of 18 women

A multidisciplinary team comes together to learn from each other, lead the project activities, and inspire a group of beneficiaries — across conservation, education, gender equality, storytelling and project management.

ConservationGender equalityEducationProject managementStorytelling

ConservationGender equalityEducationProject managementStorytelling

20 beneficiaries

Twenty women learn from the team how to navigate the challenges women face and pursue careers in biodiversity conservation and environmental education. In São Tomé they were selected from 40 applications — women from rural areas near the protected park and graduates from the capital. In Príncipe, each represents a local organization working on conservation or gender equality.

How it works

Four objectives, two years

mid 2026

1. Catalyze

A core team of 18 women leads the first group of women conservationists in São Tomé and Príncipe, training and mentoring 20 others over 2 years to address social and ecological challenges.

beginning of 2027

2. Act

The core team and trainees support conservation of six overlooked endemic species by assessing their IUCN Red List status, developing a collaborative Species Action Plan, and facilitating ex-situ conservation experiences.

beginning of 2027

3. Spread

Trainees will collaborate with educators to promote gender equality and highlight women’s roles in conservation, while encouraging students to advocate for the protection of native wildlife and biodiversity.

mid 2027

4. Replicate

Selected trainees’ stories will be documented, highlighting their journeys and contributions, and shared through a digital book and short film distributed to educational institutions, while pursuing funding for independent conservation projects.

The programme

Seven modules across two years

The training is structured in seven modules, blending social and ecological learning.

Gender equality in biodiversity conservation

Women learn with sociologists and a psychologist from the Mamã Catxina association how to address gender equality at home and in the workplace, with a focus on the representation of women in nature conservation.

Inspiring women in biodiversity conservation

At least five seminars with women from São Tomé and other Portuguese-speaking African countries on the challenges and solutions of leading conservation efforts.

Terrestrial ecology

Field work course, IUCN Red List assessment for the target species, and a multi-species national action plan.

Ex-situ conservation

Ex-situ experiences for two target species in São Tomé and for the Obô giant land snail in Príncipe.

Environmental education

Training of beneficiaries with female school educators, production of environmental education materials, and awareness in schools.

Storytelling

One short movie — “A Floresta Fala Feminino”, by Katya Aragão (Tela Digital) — and one booklet to raise awareness on gender equality in biodiversity conservation.

Project writing

One collaborative project is created by the Forest Tales women’s group and one funding application is submitted.

What we protect

Six endemic, overlooked species

Six endemic land snail species — currently overlooked — are targeted by conservation actions and serve as a case study for women to learn how to work in biodiversity conservation.